Blog by Tony (Monday 11 August, 2019)
Well it was up again at 4am to shower, pack our suitcases and be down stairs by 5am to check-out and meet with our driver Giannis (John) for our transport to the airport.
With just 4 and a half hours sleep we’re feeling pretty buggered and in need of some more sleep. Our trip to the airport was less worrying with Giannis back as our driver. We arrived at the airport with plenty of time up our sleeves to self-check-in and make our way through security and to our gate.
Kellie enjoyed having a sticky beak at all the Duty Free shops comparing prices of shoes, jewellery, perfumes, make-up etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc…..but she said that the prices were not that good…and in some cases more expensive than that of similar products back home.
After I finally dragged her away from window shopping we sat down for some brekky before heading to our gate. When boarding was announced we boarded a bus that took us to where our plane was on the tarmac. It was a full flight and some dirt bags had placed their carry-on luggage in where ours was to go. So after managing to make room for our carry-on in other compartments whilst I held up other passengers from taking their seats…I finally could sit down and relax.
The doors closed once all the passengers were on and I was glad to see that there was a spare seat to my right….with just Kellie on the window and me in the middle. The flight from Athens to Naples was going to take 1hr 45mins so enough time for me to catch up on some much needed sleep. No sooner did the plane take off and I was asleep….only to be woken by someone banging the back of my seat.
I now was awake….and grumpy that some shithead had interrupted my nanna nap. The constant prodding and bumping into my chair was too much and I couldn’t stand it any longer….so I turned around and stuck my head through the gap in mine and Kellie’s chair and looked him in the eyes whilst smacking the top of the chair with my hand so that he would get the hint of why I was pissed with him (as I don’t think he understood any English).
He muttered sorry…and his wife sitting next to him on the window didn’t say much. I couldn’t understand why he would constantly have to hit the back of my chair…but after turning around and seeing him…I reckon he might have used the back of my seat as a Praying Wall and was head-butting it every time he leant forward. I don’t think he was a full quid though…’cause when the plane had stopped and everyone on the aisle seats had gotten up to get their belongings down…he tried to do the same…whilst the passenger was still sitting down in the aisle seat next to him…and the aisle was full with other passengers.
Anyways….that’s my rant done.
So we made our way to our luggages carousel and met a nice Canadian couple and had a chat with them whilst we waited. After collecting our luggage we headed out the door to find a taxi. When I got outside I looked around and Kellie was nowhere to be seen. I looked around for 30secs and was relieved to see her walk through the door. I thought she might have gotten lost. It ended up that she thought we had booked a driver and was walking past all of the men with cards held up looking for our name…..
We didn’t get far before we were approached by a shady looking guy wanting to know if we were looking for a taxi. I told him where we were wanting to go and asked how much. He told me 30 euro…which we said know to and kept walking. The night before I had phoned the hotel from Greece looking to arrange a pick-up with their shuttle. As they didn’t have one I asked how much should it cost to catch a taxi from the airport to their hotel and they told me not to pay anything more than 20 euro. So Kellie and I kept walking to the end of the path following the TAXI signs and we were approached by an older fella. This time he said that the fare would be 20 euro so with that we let him put our luggage in his car.
About a 15 minute drive and we were dropped off at the main train station car park in Naples which just happens to be across the road from where we are staying at the Starhotels Terminus – Naples. Unfortunately our room wouldn’t be ready until 2pm…so we had 3hrs to kill and decided to go and get something to eat.
On the same side of the street and just 15m down the road was where the restaurants and cafes started. There were at least 10 to choose from but feeling tired we chose one just a couple of shopfronts in. I went to order some coffees to try and keep us awake as well as some light pastries. What we got was nothing what I had thought I was ordering.
I can’t even describe the caramel lattes…only that what we go was some fancy glass with the rim coated in chocolate and nuts and a whole lot of whipped cream. The pastries were not what I expected either…and Kellie wasn’t fussed on the cheesecake that I had ordered for her. Instead she preferred the Tiramisu.
After we’d decided that we’d had enough we walked back to reception around 12pm….and Kellie said that we should at least check to see whether our room was ready…which it was…..WINNING!!!
We made our way up to our room….which was joined with the room that we had booked for dad. Kellie Facetimed Snugs and Luco…and then spoke to Carlie. The pillow and bed was too comfy and I was soon counting Z’s.
I woke up after an hour’s power nap and opened my large suitcase to find a power adaptor. Upon opening my suitcase there was brown sugar all over the place. We had bought coffee and sugar when in Santorini to have as we weren’t fussed on the strong Greek coffee. So it appears that during our flight the sugar managed to spill out every where……so Kellie and I spent the next 15 minutes removing all my clothes and stuff…and shaking off the sugar. I tipped the remainder of sugar out in the shower from my suitcase and Kellie was a good girl and repacked my suitcase for me.
I managed to get in touch with the Ferry and they said that we were able to purchase tickets to Sorrento direct from them at the pier. I looked online and the time that best suits us was at 11am. So we are going to sleep in tomorrow, go and enjoy our buffet breakfast that is included in our room rate…then come back to our rooms and pack before checking out at 10am and catch a taxi to the pier just 10mins away.
Around 5:30pm we were both feeling hungry and decided to go to try another one of the many restaurants and order some nice Italian food for dinner. We ended up choosing the restaurant next to the one we had visited earlier…as it seemed nice, shady and clean.
The waiter brought us our menus…and Kellie decided that she would like the Spaghetti Carbonara and requested for mushrooms to be added….and I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese with water to wash it down with.
My spaghetti was cooked perfectly and the meat sauce was yummo. Kellie wasn’t fussed on hers…and after having a taste of mine we swapped meals. I didn’t mind her dish and was a good boy and ate it all up. Content that our bellies were full…but not too full, we were happy to call it a night and settle in and relax…type this blog, catch up with other computer stuff and maybe even catch a movie on Netflix!
So until tomorrow’s blog….
Ciao!